Country Living Series

Saturday, November 1, 2014

What about chipmunks?

In response to my post on Picking Potatoes, a reader had the following question:

I would love to have success with potato planting! My husband and I have tried twice, and yet they all get dug up and stolen by chipmunks and the like. Any suggestions? We have tried container planting also, but those rodents are persistent.

I haven't had to face this -- we have hordes of chipmunks, but they seem to leave the potatoes alone -- so I thought I'd open this up for discussion. What can this reader do to prevent her potatoes from being stolen by persistent rodents?

Maybe trying to grow them in potato wire towers? You can look them up, basically it's a length of fencing turned into a circle, then around the inside is straw, then soil. You could decide which fencing would keep them out, put a piece on the bottom and top to stop tunneling.

On a side note has anyone heard of this?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW141FyMSXEApparently the disposable canning lids have changed?

We've had success by planting in planters and putting screen across the top. Another good method is to make large chicken wire baskets and plant the potatoes in them. The added advantage is the potatoes all come up in the basket so there's less grubbing around for them and fewer shovel cuts. And they're re-usable.We have chipmunk issues here, too. Little boogers. They raid the bird feeders and then stash their loot in all my color pots. You should see some of the volunteers I get. So I've gotten pretty good at fashioning things out of chicken wire. ( You should see the "flying manger" I designed and built for the sheep. I think Don would approve! lol )

Thanks for all of the responses to my question, everyone. We do have two lovely outdoor kitties who keep some of the rodent population under control. I really like the potato tower idea, and will have my husband read all of the suggestions. As for shooting the little buggers, there are not enough hours in the day! Believe me, I am not averse to it! Thanks again.

I have chipmunks but they don't go after potatoes or sweet potatoes, never have... I would be very surprised if potato is part of the chipmunk diet. Rats love potatoes and sweet potatoes and will eat them up quickly. So maybe you don't have a problem with chipmunks.